Back in black
Busting myths and keeping these harbingers of Halloween safe

Durango resident Del Greer wishes people weren’t superstitious about black cats being bad luck. In 2011, she and her boyfriend adopted a 3-year-old black cat named Toothless from the La Plata County Humane Society. Though Toothless looks like a mini panther, he’s goofy as a kitten and still chases his tail, somersaults around the house and races downstairs to greet anyone who walks in the door.

“Out of all the cats I’ve had in my life, he’s definitely the best cat, and it seems like he’s also brought me the best luck, to be honest,” Greer said. “There have been a lot of really good life changes in the time that I’ve had him, so I would advise people that black cats are a great choice.”

Greer said she and her boyfriend have bonded over their love of Toothless, and bought their first house together after adopting him. So she worries about their beloved kitty on Halloween.

“I’ve heard that people will mess with black cats on Halloween, and that scares me, so he’s bound to the house on that holiday.”

Halloween can be a particularly tricky time for black cats, pet owners and animal shelters across the United States. Though cats were considered sacred by ancient Egyptians, by the Middle Ages, they were linked with witchcraft in Europe. Villagers slaughtered cats during the “Black Death” plague (which was ironically spread by rats, not cats), and the superstition persists to this day that it’s bad luck when a “black cat crosses your path.” So rescue organizations often face challenges finding “forever homes” for the felines.

Since black cats are a symbol of Halloween, it would seem an ideal time to promote their adoption. But there’s a reason why “Black Cat Appreciation Day” is held in August: rumors persist that Halloween is dangerous for black cats because Satan worshippers will torture them, pranksters will tease them, or the callous will adopt them to be living Halloween decorations and then return them after the holiday. Some shelters even ban black cat adoptions around Halloween.

Chris Nelson, director of animal services at the LPCHS, said before he held the position, the shelter had a moratorium on black cat adoptions for the entire month of October. 

“What used to happen would be that by November 1, we’d be full of black cats. That’s all we would have left. So we’ve pretty much relaxed that policy,” Nelson said. “I don’t really think there’s anybody out there, hopefully, with ill intents.”

Nelson said any potential adopter goes through the shelter’s screening process, and he looks for red flags around Halloween to prevent a “rent-a-cat” situation.

“But if somebody comes in on Halloween and falls in love with a black cat, I’m not going to stop them from taking it.”

Instead, the shelter tries to raise awareness throughout the year that black cats can be great pets. In April 2015, LPCHS rehomed 25 black cats and dogs in a single month by taking part in the “Back in Black” promotion organized by Best Friends Animal Society. A few months later, a black cat named Turbo became the shelter’s office cat and mascot.

“She’s brought lots of animals here at the shelter luck,” Nelson said.

Veterinarian Jennifer Schoedler, owner of Alpine Animal Hospital, said in her 18 years of practice, she’s never had to treat black cats intentionally injured by humans on Halloween.

“I worry every year,” she said. “Thankfully, Durango loves animals.”

Still, she urges cat owners to take safety precautions around Halloween. As always, a cat’s microchip information and collar ID tag should have up-to-date information in case they get lost. She noted that indoor-outdoor cats are always safer spending the night inside because of predators like owls, coyotes and foxes, and that it’s particularly important to keep that in mind on Halloween.

“Cats should be kept in, where they can’t escape outside,” she said. “Many cats are not happy about having their routine changed. Keeping them in a back bedroom allows them to hide out from all the doorbell ringing.”

She noted that although dogs are most at risk for eating something they shouldn’t, chocolate, raisins and anything containing Xylitol, a sugar substitute often found in gum, should be kept out of reach of all pets. Cats that are particularly prone to stress might benefit from a sedative prescribed by a veterinarian. But Nelson emphasized cats don’t respond similarly to medications and might even become more frantic, so it’s crucial to have a trial run before the “Big Day.”

Schoedler also suggests using LED candles instead of real ones inside Jack-o-Lanterns.

“Cats are good at burning their whiskers on real candles,” she cautioned.

This Halloween is the first one Durango resident Sarah York will celebrate with her black cat, Baggy (named for “Bagheera” in “The Jungle Book”). York has an affinity for black cats because she grew up with one named Salem, so this summer when a friend found an abandoned litter of 4-week-old kittens in a barn and told her one was black, she stopped by for a visit.

“Baggy got up on my lap and snuggled into my legs,” York said. “He definitely picked me.”

Now Baggy is a “cuddlebug” with a big personality. Whenever York takes a bubblebath, Baggy dips his tail or paws in the water. He likes to hang out on a neighbor’s patio table with his black cat pals Monster and Leo – “It’s like an unofficial meeting. I call them the Black Cat Society” – but is best friends with York’s 10-year-old Lab mix, Harley (full name: Sir Harles Barkley).

York said since adopting Baggy, she’s had a lot of laughs and even good luck, including a new boyfriend. It’s confirmed her belief that black cats are good omens instead of bad.

“He’s a special little guy,” York said. “I love black cats – I think they’re cool.”